CD-Charts Position 1
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Xenakis - Synaphai; Aroura; Antikhthon

by: Iannis Xenakis, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Geoffrey Douglas Madge

Release Date September 25, 2006
I bought this CD for the first piece on it, Synaphai, on a whim, and I was not disappointed by it.
Synaphai is a wonderful piece. Within the musical environment here - the huge, searing quarter-tonal cloud of sound produced by the orchestra - you might think the restrictions of the piano would render it obsolete, but the atmosphere here is spectacular. The percussive piano notes shine out brilliantly, and Xenakis creates a completely alien sound world.
Aroura and Antikhthon are equally other-worldly, though not quite as interesting as Synaphai (that's what really stopped me giving it 5 stars), but all the music here is performed fantastically.

A very interesting CD, and a great one to get you started on Xenakis' music ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Xenakis: Metastasis

from: Chant Du Monde

Release Date February 11, 2002
I give this four stars mainly because the 35 year old "gramaphone record" I have of these recordings is almost worn out, and, looking for a replacement, I was amazed to see that these recordings are still available in the new medium. Now more than 50 years old, Xenakis' astounding debut sounds as fresh and challenging as ever.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Xenakis: Pleïades

from: Musique d'abord

Release Date August 18, 2002
I recently attended a performance of Xenakis' Pleiades at the Promms. The most enjoyable element of the piece was when a member of the audience stood up and cired 'boo'.

Experiment is an integral and essential part of musical development. There are good experiments and there are bad experiments. As it turns out, Pleiades is an atrocious experiment. Why? With avant garde music, context is everything. The pleiades are a cluster of stars. Ethereal, mysterious and enigmatic. The aggressive nature of the 1st, 3rd and 4th movements are miles away from evoking anything like this. If Xenakis answered the problem of context, then there would be no problem. But as it stands, it's as though Xenakis has plucked an interesting muse and belittled ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Xenakis: Electronic Works 2

from: Mode

Release Date October 14, 2008
I recently attended a performance of Xenakis' Pleiades at the Promms. The most enjoyable element of the piece was when a member of the audience stood up and cired 'boo'.

Experiment is an integral and essential part of musical development. There are good experiments and there are bad experiments. As it turns out, Pleiades is an atrocious experiment. Why? With avant garde music, context is everything. The pleiades are a cluster of stars. Ethereal, mysterious and enigmatic. The aggressive nature of the 1st, 3rd and 4th movements are miles away from evoking anything like this. If Xenakis answered the problem of context, then there would be no problem. But as it stands, it's as though Xenakis has plucked an interesting muse and belittled ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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Xenakis - Orchestral Works, Vol 5

from: Timpani

Release Date April 15, 2008
I recently attended a performance of Xenakis' Pleiades at the Promms. The most enjoyable element of the piece was when a member of the audience stood up and cired 'boo'.

Experiment is an integral and essential part of musical development. There are good experiments and there are bad experiments. As it turns out, Pleiades is an atrocious experiment. Why? With avant garde music, context is everything. The pleiades are a cluster of stars. Ethereal, mysterious and enigmatic. The aggressive nature of the 1st, 3rd and 4th movements are miles away from evoking anything like this. If Xenakis answered the problem of context, then there would be no problem. But as it stands, it's as though Xenakis has plucked an interesting muse and belittled ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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20th-Century Orchestral Works - Boulez [IMPORT]

from: Erato

Release Date May 01, 2006
Here we have 5 CDs in a double jewel case collecting much of what Pierre Boulez recorded for the late lamented Erato label, now part of Warner Music. Some of this music is available on seperate reissues on the Apex label, but I think that this is the best value-for-money as you get a comprehensive booklet (in very small font).

CD1 covers Shoenberg and his lush Pelleas und Melisande piece; this is not spiky but a very mellow 40 mins. The CD is filled up with the Variations for orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays very well indeed.

CD2 is Berio and his Sinfonia and Eindrucke - bit dated, 60s hippy stuff.

CD3 is Elliott Carter; nearly 100 years old and still composing. I surprised myself by rather liking ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
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Xenakis - Works for Percussion

from: Bis

Release Date June 27, 2004
Here we have 5 CDs in a double jewel case collecting much of what Pierre Boulez recorded for the late lamented Erato label, now part of Warner Music. Some of this music is available on seperate reissues on the Apex label, but I think that this is the best value-for-money as you get a comprehensive booklet (in very small font).

CD1 covers Shoenberg and his lush Pelleas und Melisande piece; this is not spiky but a very mellow 40 mins. The CD is filled up with the Variations for orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays very well indeed.

CD2 is Berio and his Sinfonia and Eindrucke - bit dated, 60s hippy stuff.

CD3 is Elliott Carter; nearly 100 years old and still composing. I surprised myself by rather liking ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Decoding skin

from: Divine Art

Release Date July 24, 2006
DS Mc Leod is dead right. This CD is way cool. Phillip Howerd can tickle the ivory like Nobody's business. If there's any justice in the world he'll soon be up there with such greats as Kampf, Lill, Rubinstein and Myleen Class. There's nothing Cheesy here - just 100% Pure Quality. On this album Howerd piledrives his way through some wicked hits. Evryali - POW ! Edward Munchausen - BIFF !! Butterfly Dreams - KERSPLATT !!! Like some kind of pianistic Incredible Hulk - or hunk, from the look of his sleeve photo - phwoarrrr ! ;-) - Howerd delivers the goods for more than an hour of Piano Gold. Come on Divine Art. Give us some more Hits By Howerd ! My fave track on there is Zeitgeist, by Max Wilson. I can't get it out of my head OMG. Can anyone tell me how to ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Imaginary Landscapes

from: Fmr

Release Date January 08, 2003
DS Mc Leod is dead right. This CD is way cool. Phillip Howerd can tickle the ivory like Nobody's business. If there's any justice in the world he'll soon be up there with such greats as Kampf, Lill, Rubinstein and Myleen Class. There's nothing Cheesy here - just 100% Pure Quality. On this album Howerd piledrives his way through some wicked hits. Evryali - POW ! Edward Munchausen - BIFF !! Butterfly Dreams - KERSPLATT !!! Like some kind of pianistic Incredible Hulk - or hunk, from the look of his sleeve photo - phwoarrrr ! ;-) - Howerd delivers the goods for more than an hour of Piano Gold. Come on Divine Art. Give us some more Hits By Howerd ! My fave track on there is Zeitgeist, by Max Wilson. I can't get it out of my head OMG. Can anyone tell me how to ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Xenakis - Chamber Music

by: Arditti Qt

Release Date May 23, 2000
An excellent double disk covering a large time-span in Xenakis's output. These pieces perhaps lose some of their intensity and vitality in a non-live performance but they are superb performances all the same. I've particularly enjoyed the two cello pieces, Nomos Alpha and Kottos, and the string quartet music.